256 ODYSSEY • BOOK XVI [407

without further debate. They all retired into the palace and sa
down once more on their chairs of polished wood.

It was at this moment that Penelope gave way to a sudda
impulse to confront these Suitors of hers, now that they hai
shown to what extremes they were prepared to go. She knev
well enough that her son's murder had been canvassed in th
palace, for Medon the herald had overheard their debate an<
warned her. So now she gathered her ladies round her am
went down to the hall. With queenly dignity she approachci
the young men, and drawing a fold of her bright head-dres
across her cheeks, took her stand by a pillar of the massive roof
where she rounded on Antinous and called him bluntly t<
account:

* They say in Ithaca that there is no one of your age so wise an<
eloquent as you, Antinous. You have proved them wrong; an<
I denounce you for the double-dealing ruffian that you are
Madman! How dare you plot against Telemachus^ life and dis
honour the obligations that a past act of mercy imposes - bond
that are ratified by Zeus himself and make all enmity between
you two a sacrilege? Or have you forgotten that your fathe
once sought refuge here from the fury of the mob, when thei
blood was up because he had Joined the Taphian pirates in a rai<
on the Thesprotians, who were at peace with us? They wouL
have killed him and had his heart out, quite apart from th
seizure of his handsome income, had not Odysseus intervene
and controlled their violence - Odysseus, at whose expense yoi
are living free of charge, whose wife you are courting, an<
whose son you propose to kill, whatever torture you may caus
to me. I command you now to put an end to this and make th
rest obey you.'

It was Eurymachus son ofPolybus who took it on himself t<
deal with the Queen. 'Penelope,' he said, 'wise daughter o
Icarius, have no fear. Dismiss these terrors from your mind. Th
man is not born and never will be, who shall lay violent hand
on Telemachus your son, so long as I live and am on earth to se

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